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Claire Williams targeting points at every race during the 2014 season

Williams finished ninth in 2013 Constructors' Championship

By William Esler

Last Updated: 06/03/14 6:20pm

The Grove-based team finished ninth in the 2013 Constructors' Championship - only ahead of minnows Caterham and Marussia - with eighth for Valtteri Bottas in the United States GP the high point of a disappointing campaign.

However, the team have shown good pace throughout pre-season testing - new recruit Felipe Massa set the fastest time of anyone during the two Bahrain tests - whilst the FW36 also proved to be one of the most reliable cars.

"The Williams team has never really come out before a season and said where we want to finish, but P9 in the championship last year was really difficult for us and not where we want to be so we have to improve on that - there is no choice! We are not in F1 to make up the numbers and finish at the back of the grid, we want to be winning grands prix again," the Deputy Team Principal told Sky Sports News.

"Everyone at the team has been fighting really, really hard, we have made a lot of changes to the team over the past nine months and we hope they will take effect this year. If we could get both cars into the Q3 - the top ten on the grid - and then achieve point-scoring positions in every race that would be fantastic.

"In testing you never know 100 per cent where you are going to be when you get to the first race afterwards, but it has been a really positive pre-season for us in Jerez and the two Bahrain ones. Felipe had a time that was quicker than everyone else's and we completed the second highest number of kilometres behind Mercedes, so it has been really positive.

"We have achieved everything we wanted to and we were able as well, after proving our reliability, to work on our performance. It stands us in really good stead, but you won't know where everyone is until we get to the first race."

Massa joins Williams after eight seasons racing for Ferrari and clearly hopes the change will prove beneficial to both.

"I think it's a new time, like a re-start - for me but also for Williams," the Brazilian said. "I think it's the right time to change; it's the right time to have a new team, a team that really wants to get competitive again and really wants to get back to the top.

"I'm really enjoying working with Williams for the moment. There's still a lot to do and a lot to learn and understand but I'm really looking forwards. I hope we can have a competitive season, a good car and trying to put Williams on the top again."

Bottas was also trying to keep a lid on expectations despite Williams' headline-grabbing times in Bahrain.

"This season the starting point for us is a lot better than last year," the Finn added.

"The team is really starting to go in the right direction and we are getting to where we belong. But we are keeping our feet on the ground - testing is only testing and racing is racing, there are no points for testing. So let's see, Melbourne is coming soon and then we will see where we are."